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Prologue
“Did you hear the news? Count Aldeon got married… to a maid.”
“Oh my, no way. That proud Count married a maid?”
“That’s what I heard. You never know how things turn out in this world.”
The whole town buzzed at the news. Aldeon, who always looked down on his servants, had married a commoner—a mere maid.
“That’s why everyone’s trying to get into noble households as maids. Already so many have become madams from being maids.”
“Right? Back in the old days, that would’ve been impossible.”
I quietly nodded.
Yeah… just a few years ago, this would’ve been totally impossible. Most nobles married other nobles.
But times were changing.
There were academies where nobles and commoners learned together, and commoner-born knights could even become captains of the royal knight corps.
Revolutions had abolished class systems in nearby countries.
Yet in the Hersian Empire, where I lived, the social hierarchy was still strict. Just… lately, its foundation had started to shake a little.
The newly crowned emperor, Leonhart Hersian, was rumored to be seeing a commoner woman, which made stories of “love beyond social class” all the more glamorous.
“Are there any eligible young masters around?”
“Why? Planning to sneak in as a servant and seduce one?”
As they chattered excitedly while picking wild berries, their eyes suddenly turned to me.
“Mary, why have you been so quiet all this time?”
“Yeah, you were chatting away before.”
I forced a small smile.
“Oh… I’m just not that interested in these kinds of stories.”
“Oh my, not interested in something this fun?”
“Wait… didn’t you used to work as a maid in the Hamilton house?”
I gasped.
I’d only told Lady Anessa about it, so how did chatty Laura hear it?
“Yeah, I heard that too. And it wasn’t just chores—you served right beside the young master, didn’t you?”
Anna, standing nearby, looked curious too. So Laura wasn’t the only one who knew my past.
I nodded, and the two of them squealed in excitement.
“Wow, that’s so lucky! You got to see Ricardo Hamilton up close?”
“Really! I saw him in the papers—he’s gorgeous! I thought the photo was like a sculpture. Is he just as handsome in real life?”
“Did anything happen between you two?”
I was overwhelmed by their nonstop questions.
This is exactly why I’d asked Lady Anessa to keep my time at the Hamilton house a secret.
“Mary, answer them already.”
I sighed and thought of young Master Ricardo.
It had been three years since I left the Hamilton house, but his face was still vivid in my mind, just like yesterday.
Messy, sun-kissed brown hair in the morning.
Smooth, porcelain-like pale skin.
Emerald-green eyes that sparkled like crushed stars.
A straight, delicate nose.
Lips soft as candy.
A sharp jawline and broad, strong shoulders.
“He’s even better in real life than in the newspapers.”
“Oh my, no wonder!”
“Ahhh! Amazing!”
They squealed like little girls as I spoke calmly.
I thought they might stop there, but…
“So, Mary. Did anything happen to the young master?”
They were relentless.
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
“Really?”
“Really. There was no way anything could happen. He’s going to inherit the Hamilton family and handle state affairs, and I’m just a maid doing chores.”
“Ah, come on. It’s rare these days for a maid to catch the eye of a noble young master.”
Laura’s eyes sparkled, convinced that love across class was true romance.
I shook my head.
Even love beyond social class has its limits.
The Hamilton family was a prestigious noble family, descended from royalty. Their status has dipped slightly because of recent events, but not completely.
Ricardo Hamilton, the only son, beloved by royalty and holding great power…
There was no way he would ever end up with a mere maid.
…And that’s how it should be.
“He’ll marry a noble lady. He’s already forgotten someone like me.”
A maid who leaves after her work is done is naturally forgotten.
But why did it make me so sad to think he had forgotten me?
It’s because I got too attached. I’ve been by his side since I was little…’
I tried to convince myself with a reasonable explanation.
“I haven’t forgotten you.”
The familiar yet unfamiliar voice ringing in my ears made me drop the basket I was holding.
Laura and Anna screamed in shock, then quickly looked down.
I noticed the spilled wild berries on the floor.
One rolled across and bumped into the shiny tip of polished shoes.
The owner picked it up and popped it into his mouth.
I nearly shouted in shock.
“Y-young master…?!”
Ricardo Hamilton.
He was right in front of me.
Three years had passed, yet his face was exactly as I remembered. Maybe slightly more mature.
“Hello. It’s been a while, Mary.”
‘Is it really Ricardo?’
How did he find me here?’
Does Lady Lianne know he’s here too?’
I stared at those green eyes sparkling in the sunlight, then finally spoke.
“Laura, Anna… could you give us a moment? I want to talk with him alone.”
“Uh… okay.”
“Have a good time.”
They reluctantly left, shooting us curious looks.
Once they were gone, I scolded him.
“You shouldn’t pick things up off the ground!”
That was the first thing I said after seeing him for three years.
“You picked them yourself; it’d be wasteful to throw them away.”
Was that even a reply?
“Why are you here?”
I tried to sound cold, but his answer was gentle.
“I came because I wanted to see you. Mary.”
…He wanted to see me?
My heart skipped a beat.
Calm down. It’s not what you think.
I forced myself to speak calmly.
“I’m no longer your maid. So please, go home.”
“No.”
“Don’t be stubborn. You’re not a child—how long are you going to keep following me?”
I expected him to get angry or pout like the boy I knew.
But the man in front of me smiled calmly and said quietly:
“All my life.”
“Huh?”
Did I hear that right?
He repeated, emphasizing each word.
“F-o-r-e-v-e-r. I’ll follow you wherever you go.”
“…That’s scary.”
“Scary? Isn’t it better to have someone this handsome following you around?”
I had to admit… he was right. Ricardo Hamilton was truly handsome, admired by everyone.
Still, I wouldn’t fall for just his looks.
“I was taught that if someone follows you even when you say no, that’s a dangerous stalker. So I’ll report it.”
“Who taught you that?”
“Lady Lianne.”
“Your mother?”
“Yes. So please, young master, stop stalking me and go home.”
“That won’t work. If I leave now, I might pine for you and waste away… Mary.”
Watching him pretend to be pitiful, I groaned.
If this kept going, the whole town would start gossiping.
“Mary and Ricardo Hamilton… they’re a thing… And now Mary’s going to be a duchess?” Ridiculous rumors would spread.
I sighed and whispered:
“Follow me.”
I kept turning to check if he was following me through the quiet reed fields.
Every time, his green eyes softened at me.
They were the same as before.
Softly curved, eyes full of affection.
A smile that lifted at the corners.
Just looking at him, I could feel the warmth—but it didn’t feel sweet.
“Young master… I…”
I barely got the words out: I won’t go back there, so please leave.
Before I could finish, he pulled me into his arms from behind.
“Young master! I told you not to!”
I repeated my words, trying to break free.
But the hand holding me didn’t move an inch.
‘Why is he so strong?!’
I could feel the firmness through my clothes; one hand was big enough to grab my whole arm.
The boy who used to pout after losing an arm-wrestling match was gone.
“I missed you, Mary.”
His sweet, soft voice trembled slightly, like he might cry. I couldn’t answer.
“Remember when I said no tree can resist ten tries? I’ll make you mine.”
“Yes, and I told you I’m not a tree, but a person.”
He chuckled, remembering the old memory.
“Right. You’re a person, not a tree. So… I’ll stop trying.”
My heart stopped. Time seemed to freeze.
So he came to say this. That’s right.
“If you won’t come to me…”
His voice, so sweet, couldn’t possibly be someone giving up on love.
“I’ll come to you.”
